Automobile door latch and opener



Feb. 23,1932. R. w. RIDER 1,846,755

` `AUTOMOBILE DOOR LATCH AND OPENER Filed Nov. 23. 1929 ZIV/a 7rd' hier,

Patented Feb. 23, 1932 i UNITED STATES v'PATEN'Fl-ic' ROWLAND W. RIDER,F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSGNOR TO UTAH ROYALTY COR- PORATION, OF SALTLAKE CITY, 'UTAH AUTOMOBILE Doon LATCH AND OPENER Application filedNovember 23, V1929. Serial No. 409,408.

Myvinvention relates to door opening devices and has for its object toprovide means in combination with the usual door latch by which onwithdrawal of the latch from en` aV knob or handle for withdrawing itfrom locking position by a twist of the lknob or handle. With doorswhich fit snugly such as the doors of automobiles the twisting of thehandle which withdraws the latch has to be i. supplemented by asubstantial pull on the handle to start the door from closed position.It is an object of my invention to provide means for obviating thenecessity for the pull on the door handle by providing means by whichthe twisting of the handle to withdraw the latch will act to start thedoor away 'from the door jamb. A further object of my invention is toprovide means for effecting the initial opening movement which will besimple, inexpensive and eiticient.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter explainedin view my invention consists in the construction of elementshereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a door latch embodying my invention, thecasing being partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the latch shown in Figure 1 without thecasing showing the latch in locking position, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the latch inwithdrawn position.

In the drawings 1 indicates the sliding member or plunger of a doorlatch of usual construction pressed forward to engage the strike plateon the door jamb by a spring 2 and withdrawn from engagement by theusual cam 3 on the shaft 1 of the usual door handle 5, this cam beingadapted to act, when the handle is turned, against a downwardlyextending projection 6 carried by the sliding member or latch bolt 1, towithdraw it from engagement with the strike plate and permit the door tobe swung open. The construction so tar described is conventional and isillustrative of one of the forms of door latch to vwhich my inventionmay be applied.

In my invention the sliding member or `plunger 1 is provided with a calnguide way 7 extending through it, preferablyV at its upper edge, toreceive the curved portion '8v of a push member 9 pivotally connected atits rear end to the latch casing and having its forward or free end 10adapted to engage the side of the openinflP in the strike plate or`other fixed portionV or the door jamb.V This push member is here shownas carried by a pin or screw 11 extending through a slot 12 in the rearend of the push member into the plate 13 of the latch casing. This slotis of such length relative to the screw or pin 11 as to permit the pushmember toswing onV an axis at right angles to the line ot movement ofthe latchv bolt being yieldingly held against such movement by a spring14: between the head 15 'of pin or screw 11 and the push member, thespring bearing at one end against the head 15 and at the other endbearing against the end portion of the push d push member with a fixedportion ot the latch casing.` f

In closing the door the bevelled end 16 of the slidingrmember or plunger1 as `it strikes the usual strile'lpla-te on the door jamb will in thestrike plate and is forced torwardby spring 2 into latching engagementwith the striker plate.v

In this lat-ching movement the push member by reason of the engagementof its curved portion 8 with the cam guideway 6 presents no obstacle tothe latching movement and in fact may assist the action of spring 2 asthe free end 10 strikes the strike plate.

When the door is to be opened the handle 5 is turned as usual toforce-cam 3 against projection 6 on the sliding member or plunger l toforcibly Withdraw it from its latching engagement with the strike plate.As the sliding member or plunger l is thus Withdrawn its cam Way 'Yacting on curved portion of the. push member` causes itsV tree end 10 topress against the door jamb and Aso to force the door away, thusstarting thevopening swing of the door on its hinges.

- While the device thus described is particularly adapted and intendedfor use on automobile doors it may be used on latches for any swingingdoors, and While adapted for use with sliding bolts is independent ofparf ticular means for moving the sliding bolt in either direction. A

Having thus described my inventioinwhat I claim is 1. In a door latch,a. sliding latch bolt and L y means for moving 1t into and out oflatching position, means operated by the latch bolt for'acting againstthe door jamb to start the door towards open position comprising a camcarried by the latch bolt' and a push member mounted to swinghorizontally on a Xed pivot and having its Jree end in position tobe-acted on by the cam ot the latch bolt.

. 2. Ina door latch, a sliding latch bolt having a recess in one edge,means for moving the latch bolt into andout or" latching positionandmeans operated by the latch both for acting against the door jamb tostart the door toward open position comprising a push member arranged insaid recess of the latch bolt having its rear end held against move--ment longitudinally of the latch bolt and having' its free end adaptedto be projected into contact with the door jamb.

3. In a door latch, a sliding latch bolt having a recess in one edge,means for moving the latch bolt into and out of latching position andmeans operated by the latch bolt for acting against the door amb tostart the door toward open position comprising a push member arranged insaid recess of the latch bolt having its rear end held against movementlongitudinally of the latch bolt and havingV its free end adapted to beprojected into contact with the door jamb and means carried bythe latchbolt for acting upon the free end of the push member to project itagainst the door j amb. 7

" In testimony whereof,` I hereunto atliX my Y s1 gna-ture.

ROWLAND W. RIDER.

